European Rail Summit 2017

Organised by the Railway Gazette Group, with the support of leading industry associations, this high-level Summit is hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union. It brings together around 300 top decision-makers to address key aspects of European railway policy and development, through a mix of presentations, round-table discussions and networking opportunities.

Mr Carlo Borghini was appointed Executive Director of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking on 16 February 2016 and is responsible for the overall management of the S2R JU activities.

Prior to this posting, Mr Borghini was EDA Corporate Services Director, where he was responsible for the management of financial and human resources, as well as programme management and administrative issues.

Previously, Mr Borghini held the position of Deputy Executive Director for the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) in Brussels from 2008 to 2014. In this capacity, he had specific responsibilities for corporate governance, administration and finance while contributing the overall management of the programme. More specifically, he managed a budget amounting to over €2 billion, with a portfolio of more than 300 different projects undertaken by the 16 SJU Members.

Prior to that, Mr Borghini was Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialised Agency of the United Nations based in Roma, Italy. In this position he managed an annual budget of about $200 million, with an overall portfolio of around $9 billion of on going loans.

From 2001 to 2006, Carlo Borghini worked at the European Commission’s, until 2005 as Internal Audit Supervisor within DG AGRI and after as Head of Internal Audit Unit in DG BUDG.

Before he joined the EU institutions, Mr Borghini held several finance-related positions in the private sector. From 1999 to 2001, he worked as Director, CFO and Country Controller for American Express Bank in Luxembourg. From 1997 to 1999, he was Director Financial Controller for Sopaf Group in Milano, Italy.

Born in Italy on 1 September 1964, Mr Borghini holds a Master Degree equivalent in Business Economics. He is a native speaker of Italian and also possesses an excellent proficiency in French. He is married with three children.

After being awarded a MSc in Transport from Imperial College in 2004 he specialised in the field of Travel and Transportation in the course of several consultant jobs. In 2011, he joined Deutsche Bahn in Frankfurt and held several Manager positions. In 2015, he finally returned to his homeland and is in charge of ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG’s high speed and long-distance train services since November 2015.

Dr. Tobias Heinemann is member of the management board of Transdev in Germany and as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) responsible for Marketing & Sales. Between 1999 and 2009, the lawyer with state exams held various management positions at DB Regio AG, i. a. at the S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, and the DB Stadtverkehr.

Elisabeth Werner, an Austrian national, joined the Commission in 1996. She has held various posts in the European Commission dealing with budget, budget control and anti-fraud, incl. as Commission Spokesperson, Member of Cabinet 2004-2008 (Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud) and Head of unit responsible for relations with the Court of Auditors and budgetary discharge. In 2010-2014 she joined DG MOVE and headed the Planning, inter-institutional and communication unit for European transport policy. At the start of the Juncker Commission, Mrs Werner joined the cabinet of Vice President Kristalina Georgieva, in charge of Budget and Human resources, first as senior expert and as Head of Cabinet until end 2016. Since 2017 Mrs Werner is back to DG Mobility and Transport and was recently appointed Director for Land Transport (rail and road). Mrs Werner holds an economics degree from the University of Vienna and an MA in European Affairs (Collège d’Europe, Bruges).

Ahti Kuningas, the Deputy Secretary General for Transport co-ordinates the development, implementation and surveillance of transportational development plans within the Ministry’s area of government. The Deputy Secretary General is in charge of the development and implementation of operational programmes that support transportational development, emergency plans, target programmes and foreign aid projects.

Jean-Pierre Loubinoux held various responsibilities in SNCF, Director of French railroads Inc.North-America and of French Railways UK Ltd., Chief Executive of SNCF Freight International, Chairman and CEO of SNCF International.

In March 2009, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux was appointed Director-General of the International Union of Railways (UIC), the worldwide association representing the rail sector worldwide. His mandate is set to run until 2019.

In addition, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux holds responsibilities in many institutions: French Foreign Trade Advisor, Chairman of the Medef International France-Argentina-Uruguay Committee, Honorary Chairman of AFFI (the French association of railway engineers), Member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, Member of the Board of the US High Speed Rail Association., and the Mineta Transport Institute. He is also advisor to UN Secretary General, in a High-level group for sustainable mobility, and member of the board of Slocat.

Jean-Pierre Loubinoux has been awarded the Legion of Honor, and is Commander of the French National Order of Merit – one of the highest decorations in France. He also edits books of poetry, and creates paintings.

Dr. Markus Ksoll is Head of Competition and Regulatory Policy at Deutsche Bahn AG, Berlin. Markus has joined DB in 2002, in former positions he was Head of Associations and Academic Relations, and involved in several policy and strategy projects at DB. He is an economist with research and teaching experience in microeconomics and industrial organisation. His PhD thesis deals with pricing and structure in energy markets. Markus has spent his university- and schooldays in Hamburg, Melbourne, Kiel, and Brussels.

The mission of the Unit is to establish an interoperable and safe Single European Rail area and to manage the relationships with the European Union Agency for Railways and the Shift-To-Rail Joint undertaking. This includes in particular: pursuing the conditions to achieve interoperability and safety in the rail systems across the EU, in particular in partnership with the European Union Agency for Railways; and ensuring the delivery of a long term R&I programme with the rail industry which supports the Commission's vision for the future of rail and broader transport, competitiveness, environmental and social policy objectives. Mr Fitch is the former Deputy Head of Cabinet of Siim Kallas, Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport where Mr. Fitch is responsible for land transport, security and state aids, inter alia. He was also the coordinator of the White Paper of the Future of Transport. Mr Fitch studied mathematics and law at Cambridge, was a lawyer at Herbert Smith and then moved on to the UK civil service in 1993. He joined the European Commission's Legal Service in 1999. Before joining the cabinet of Mr. Kallas in 2004, he was a Member of Cabinet of Vice-President Kinnock, responsible for Administration.

As CEO of Lineas (ex-B Logistics), Geert Pauwels (°1974) has led the company through a thorough transformation to become a dynamic, financially sound, private rail freight operator that is growing fast in Europe. Before joining the group in 2005, Geert, an economist, worked at McKinsey.

The mission of the Unit is to establish an interoperable and safe Single European Rail area and to manage the relationships with the European Union Agency for Railways and the Shift-To-Rail Joint undertaking. This includes in particular: pursuing the conditions to achieve interoperability and safety in the rail systems across the EU, in particular in partnership with the European Union Agency for Railways; and ensuring the delivery of a long term R&I programme with the rail industry which supports the Commission's vision for the future of rail and broader transport, competitiveness, environmental and social policy objectives. Mr Fitch is the former Deputy Head of Cabinet of Siim Kallas, Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport where Mr. Fitch is responsible for land transport, security and state aids, inter alia. He was also the coordinator of the White Paper of the Future of Transport. Mr Fitch studied mathematics and law at Cambridge, was a lawyer at Herbert Smith and then moved on to the UK civil service in 1993. He joined the European Commission's Legal Service in 1999. Before joining the cabinet of Mr. Kallas in 2004, he was a Member of Cabinet of Vice-President Kinnock, responsible for Administration.

Gianluigi Castelli is the Executive VP for Innovation and Information Systems of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Director of the SDA Bocconi DEVO Lab. Formerly he has been Eni Executive VP & CIO, Vodafone Global IT Director, Fiat Auto CIO, Senior Lecturer at the University of Milan and Adjunct Professor at Politecnico di Milano.

Before Shaun Mills was appointed as CEO of the Alpha Trains Group (Continental Europes Leading privately owned rolling stock lessor) in 2010 he held the position of CEO at Abellio GmbH a German passenger rail transport operator. Mr Mills previously held board level positions in the rail transport sector with Arriva plc and Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) in the UK. Prior to moving into the passenger transport industry, he held a variety of senior positions providing extensive international experience with BAE Systems plc the UK aerospace and defence contractor. Mr Mills is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Dr. Armin Haupt started at Siemens Power Generation as a mechanical engineer. After several years as general project manager for large turnkey power plant projects he moved into Strategic Management and Production Consulting, providing consultancy services to Siemens Divisions worldwide. Today he serves Siemens Mobility as Head of Business Development and Strategy.

Prior to his appointment as CEO of ProRail in april 2015, Mr Eringa was chairman of the Albert Schweitzer hospital in Dordrecht and turned this into the best hospital in the Netherlands. Mr. Eringa is an experienced executive in public service and public administration. He has been responsible for the municipal organization (approximately 2,400 employees) of the historic city of Nijmegen. Eringa has also held various positions in the Dutch police force. He started his career as an inspector of the local police in Leeuwarden and finished as police chief of the Flevoland region. He also has experience in the rail sector. Between 1999 and 2002 he was Regional Director for the Dutch Railways (NS) being responsible for rail passenger transport in the North East Netherlands. He was also Executive Vice President Security and member of the national management team.

Appointed Vice President of the French Rail and Road Regulatory Body (ARAFER) in November 2014, Anne YVRANDE-BILLON is also Chair of IRG-Rail (Independent Regulators’ Group) for 2017, and President of the “Club des Régulateurs” (Paris-Dauphine Foundation) since July 2017. She worked previously at the French Competition Authority, as senior economist, and deputy chair of Mergers Unit. She holds a PhD in economics from Paris-Sorbonne University. Her research and publications are mostly in the fields of regulation of utilities, with a particular interest in the public transport sector. She was made a Knight in the National Order of Merit in 2016.

Radek has 10 years experience in the railway sector. He is currently working for České dráhy as a Director Office for Passenger Transport. He is responsible for strategy of long distance transport segment (with special focus on period 2019-2029 - defining CD business position on future open market) and international business development. He also presents CD position and future developments to the rating agency and potential investors.

Mr. Gilles Peterhans studied finance and economics at the University of St. Gallen - School of Management, Economics, Law, Social Sciences and International Affairs (HSG) in Switzerland. After he graduated in 2001, he transitioned through various field of operating positions in the railway industry. In 2003, he first joined Rexwal, a Swiss rolling stock leasing company, and was shortly promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer. In 2005, he took over the CEO responsibilities of the newly founded railway undertakings. Recently, Mr. Peterhans focused on originating and executing of private placements and was involved in merger acquisitions transactions. Since January 2013, he acts as Secretary General of UIP – International Union of Wagon Keepers.

Nicolette van der Jagt, Director-General of CLECAT, the European organization of Logistics Service Providers, Freight Forwarders and Customs since January 2012. Previously, Nicolette was for 10 years Secretary-General of the Brussels based European Shippers’ Council representing the national and international freight interest of industry around Europe. She has a university degree in international relations and European studies from the Universities of Utrecht (NL) and Strasbourg (FR).

After studying Law at the LSE, Laura worked for an MP in Westminster and continued her interest in politics by being elected as a councillor. Laura joined Network Rail in 2006 working in major project stakeholder relations roles and as European Affairs Specialist. Laura joined RDG as Head of International Policy leading on strategic engagement with the EU and Brexit.

Ismail Ertug has been a member of the European Parliament since 2009. He is a full Member and Coordinator of the S&D Group in the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN);substitute Member of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI); Member of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committees EU- Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan and also for the relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia; Substitute member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Mr Ertug is also a substitute member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.